What term is used to describe perceiving everyone as average?

The term that describes perceiving everyone as average is central tendency. This concept arises in performance evaluations and related assessments, where evaluators may lean toward rating most individuals as average rather than differentiating between high and low performers. This can result from a variety of factors, including a reluctance to make judgments that might be perceived as overly critical or an avoidance of extremes in evaluation practices.

In organizational contexts, when evaluators use central tendency, it can obscure true performance levels and prevent effective feedback, development, and promotion decisions. Therefore, being aware of this bias is crucial for managers to ensure that their appraisals are both accurate and beneficial for employee development.